Music creates a safe space. Or at least, it should. Breaking through the monotony of Grahamstown’s night life, local musicians are creating music and events that are innovative, and that attempt to heal both artist and listener. We caught up with rapper Kearne Human and DJ Nandi Jakuja.

Nandi Jakuja

Nandi Jakuja is a local DJ in Grahamstown and strives to create a safe, healing space with her music (Photo: Megan Kelly)

Music is Jakuja’s therapy. It is her safe space. “It’s healing,” she says, “I’m not good with words, but I’m very expressive. When I’m struggling with something, I’ll make a mix.”

Exploring melancholic and dreamy beat-scapes, Jakuja’s mixes include genres such as hip-hop and downtempo electronic music.

Although born in Port Elizabeth and a current resident of Pretoria, her musical interest began while studying a Bachelor of Arts at Rhodes University.

In 2014, her musical endeavours were inspired by Newfolder, a Grahamstown-based music event that features alternative hip-hop and electronic genres.According to Jakuja, it was established as a rebellion against Grahamstown’s limited nightlife scene, offering a place for those who felt “in-between”.

“When I got to Rhodes I could relate to that because I had no space where I could [ ] feel comfortable in. That’s why I felt so aligned and connected with Newfolder,” she says.

She started mixing and playing at Newfolder in 2015 before taking charge of the event in 2016.

“Music is a safe space for me. It’s healing.”

Jakuja also started a female-only event, “Stay Low, Keep Firing”, to challenge the toxic masculinity that mars Grahamstown nightlife.

The event was inspired by the #RUReferenceList protests at Rhodes University, which exposed how women are still vulnerable in a male-dominated society.

“It’s important to have a safe space for women,” she says.

Males still dominate the South African music scene, according to Jakuja, who says that female DJs are rare and that they are often under male management. “It’s important for black women to start their own.”

Jakuja’s aspirations are not Grahamstown-bound. After establishing herself on Soundcloud, Jakuja gained exposure and started DJing at events in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

She also hopes to expand Newfolder and spread the event to other cities. Although she says she is still finding her feet, she plans to produce music, and has been invited to play at an event in Seattle.

“It’s important for black women to start their own.”

Jakuja is excited about the burgeoning South African music scene. “There’s been an eruption of young [creatives]. It’s sad how no-one is catching on to it,” she says. Jakuja seems to think that artists are taking on a new paradigm: If you can’t fit into established spaces, create your own.

“As a black girl, it’s difficult being alternative because people think that being alternative is ascribing to whiteness,” she says, “Solange has made it a thing where black people can be different and rebellious.”

Kearne “Dragon” Human

Kearne “Dragon” Human is a local rapper from Rhodes University who began rapping at the age of six (Photo: Kyle Prinsloo)

Human “spits flames” and oozes feeling through what he calls ‘Art Rap’. He breaks down words and plays with them, while his lyrics look inward and draw on his lived experiences and emotions.

“I don’t chase fame. I would rather have a song that touches people and that people can relate to, ” he says. For example, his track The Anthem is about learning to loving yourself.

His childhood friend, Pierre Stemmet, produces Human’s backing tracks which are varied and take their influence from folk music, hip-hop, and electronic music.

Human’s nickname, “Dragon”, comes from his first mix-tape called, “Land of the Dragons.” “They call me Dragon because I spit flames,” he says.

Born in Pretoria, Human’s musical ventures began when he started playing the violin at a young age. He was rapping and entertaining his classmates by the age of six, inspired by the Gorillaz’ ‘Clint Eastward’. He now lives in Port Elizabeth and is studying a Bachelor of Arts at Rhodes University.

Human is a recording artist at the Lunar Room, and a regional manager for MixLab, another innovate music event that was grown in Grahamstown and is spreading nationwide.

What he’s listening to right now:

Human looks up to the South Africa rapper, Reason, because of his poetic nature. “The South African hip-hop industry is definitely moving in the right direction,” he says. Other artists that are currently fueling his flames are Isaiah Rashad and Saba. He enjoys artists that are introspective and poetic.

]]>https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2017/02/17/locals-crafting-safe-spaces/feed/0sex-on-decks74kayprins123shaneimg_2895kearne-feat_2Portfolio of Kyle Prinsloohttps://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/portfolio-of-kyle-prinsloo/
https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/portfolio-of-kyle-prinsloo/#respondFri, 18 Sep 2015 05:28:34 +0000http://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/?p=99Portfolio showcasing work produced for the Rhodes University student newspaper Oppidan Press as well as Grahamstown community newspaper Grocott’s Mail.
]]>https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/portfolio-of-kyle-prinsloo/feed/0IMG_4447kayprins123shaneTruths of a conceited youth: how to be naked in black and white [Series]https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/truths-of-a-conceited-youth-how-to-be-naked-in-black-and-white-series/
https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/truths-of-a-conceited-youth-how-to-be-naked-in-black-and-white-series/#commentsSun, 07 Jun 2015 20:49:53 +0000http://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/?p=63Truths of a conceited youth: how to be naked in black and white [Series]

Part of my journey in life has always been learning to accept my body… For many years I’ve treated it as an object – a shameful object no less.

I’m learning to understand that it is a temple – an imperfect temple.

I came across a little something from a piece of writing I composed about three years ago (I think). Here’s an extract:

“It makes me feel good knowing I can see my ribs when I suck my stomach in. It makes me feel good that I can just barely pass as thin. I’m not a bulimic though. I refuse to believe that I am. I can’t be if no one knows I do this. I know I can stop, but I just need to get to that goal weight. That goal weight of almost five years. ‘Battling the bulge’ has been a consistent and concious battle. Seeing how everyone dropped their baby fat or lost their weight ‘the right way’ was a bunch of bullshit to me. I’m a genetic fat – born fat, raised fat, living fat, forever fat…

My physicality is my greatest calamity in this life. While everyone gets the attention from the opposite or same sex, I’m left standing in the background rooting them on – offering advice from a place I’ve never existed. I’ve given up on thinking of being with anyone because I know it’s futility just waiting to remind me that it will never happen. I’ve been without a partner for so long, I doubt I could make anything work. I can never be happy in this body. I can fake it, but I’ll know. I want to be happy. I want to experience bliss from knowing I’ve kept someone satisfied with my physical appearance. I don’t want to be the person who “has a great heart” or “has a remarkable personality” or “has a sexy kind of intelligence”…” (Prinsloo, c.20??: 01)

Reading this now I cringe and laugh simultaneously at the misfortune I face(d) as a fat boy. I’m passed that now, but I know it’s a dormant addiction waiting for the right stimulus…

The shots I captured of myself could be considered my first try… they’re not only amateur in their quality and quantity, but in their desired intention too.

Consider this my “part one” in a series of bodily acceptance. It’s all about progression, right?

*I will also be photographing other candidates. Keep your eyes open.

]]>https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/truths-of-a-conceited-youth-how-to-be-naked-in-black-and-white-series/feed/2kayprins123shaneEVENT: Red Bull campus clash of the DJshttps://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/event-redbull-campus-clash-of-the-djs/
https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/event-redbull-campus-clash-of-the-djs/#respondMon, 18 May 2015 06:18:55 +0000http://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/?p=26Red Bull took over Rhodes University campus on the 14th of May when they hosted their annual Red Bull Campus Clash of the DJs. Student DJs competed for the prize of not only victor of said event — as well as the title of Rhodes University’s most illustrious DJ — but also the opportunity of exploring their field in Cape Town where they’d get hands-on experiences from renowned DJs who have toured the globe, FOR FREE! POUR RIEN! VIR NIKS! Here are some of the snaps taken that thumping Thursday…

Photos taken by me, Kyle Prinsloo

]]>https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/event-redbull-campus-clash-of-the-djs/feed/0Redbull Campus Clashkayprins123shaneXeNOphobia: Rhodes Must Marchhttps://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/xenophobia-rhodes-must-march/
https://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/xenophobia-rhodes-must-march/#respondSun, 17 May 2015 20:56:14 +0000http://glimpsesofawanderlust.wordpress.com/?p=9On the 24th of April, members from the Grahamstown community came together in solidarity for the xenophobic attacks splurging across the South African nation the past few months.